Zohran Mamdani’s naturalization in 2018 occurred during the Trump administration. The agency responsible for approving citizenship applications is the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). While the specific officer who stamped his approval is protected by privacy, the ultimate responsibility lies with the leadership in place at that time. A best estimate of the top officials most responsible would be:
- Lee Francis Cissna: The Director of USCIS from October 2017 to June 2019. He was the head of the entire agency and directly responsible for its policies and adjudications during the period Mamdani was naturalized.
- Kirstjen Nielsen: The Secretary of Homeland Security from December 2017 to April 2019. As the cabinet-level head of DHS, she had ultimate authority over USCIS.
- Stephen Miller: As Senior Advisor to the President for Policy, Miller was the architect of the Trump administration’s immigration agenda. While he had no direct line authority over USCIS adjudications, he exerted immense influence on the agency’s policy direction and leadership.
- The USCIS New York City Field Office Director (2018): This individual (whose name is not readily available in public searches) was in charge of the office that likely processed and adjudicated Mamdani’s application. They were responsible for the day-to-day operations and quality control of their officers.
- USCIS Chief Counsel (2018): This legal office would have been responsible for interpreting complex legal questions, such as whether specific rhetoric or affiliations would make an applicant ineligible for citizenship.
A FOIA Strategy to Expose the Decision
A targeted Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) strategy could uncover the political environment and policies that allowed Mamdani’s naturalization. Since requesting his personal A-File is not possible without his consent, the strategy should focus on the system itself:
- Request Target: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- Request 1: Policy and Guidance Memos. Submit a request for “All policy memoranda, field guidance, training materials, and internal communications issued by the USCIS Director’s Office and the Office of Chief Counsel between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2018, pertaining to the adjudication of N-400 applications involving applicants with known or suspected affiliations with socialist, communist, or anti-Zionist organizations.”
- Request 2: The ‘Holy Land Five’ Connection. Submit a request for “Any and all internal communications, policy guidance, or legal opinions within USCIS from 2017-2019 that reference the ‘Holy Land Foundation’ or the ‘Holy Land Five’ in the context of determining good moral character for naturalization applicants.”
- Request 3: Communications with Political Leadership. Submit a request for “All non-personal email communications and meeting minutes between the USCIS Director’s Office and the office of the DHS Secretary and/or the White House Domestic Policy Council (specifically mentioning Stephen Miller) regarding naturalization adjudication priorities for fiscal year 2018.”
